Synthesis and biological activities of cyclic lanthionine enkephalin analogues: delta-opioid receptor selective ligands

J Med Chem. 2002 Aug 15;45(17):3746-54. doi: 10.1021/jm020108k.

Abstract

The synthesis and biological test results of a series of enkephalin analogues incorporating the lanthionine modification are presented. The syntheses of four monosulfide-bridged analogues of enkephalins, Tyr-c[D-Ala(L)-Gly-Phe-D-Ala(L)]-OH (1a), Tyr-c[D-Val(L)-Gly-Phe-D-Ala(L)]-OH (1b), Tyr-c[D-Ala(L)-Gly-Phe-Ala(L)]-OH (1c), and Tyr-c[D-Val(L)-Gly-Phe-Ala(L)]-OH (1d), where Ala(L) and Val(L) denote the lanthionine amino acid ends linked by a monosulfide bridge to form the lanthionine structure, were successfully carried out via preparation of the linear peptide on solid support and cyclization in solution. In vitro binding assays against mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors and in vitro tests using GPI and MVD assays revealed that the dimethyl lanthionine analogues 1b and 1d, denoted as D-Val(L) in position 2, show substantial selectivity toward the delta-opioid receptor, while the unsubstituted analogues 1a and 1c, denoted as D-Ala(L) in position 2, bind to both mu- and delta-opioid receptors. The in vivo thermal escape assay by intrathecal administration showed that the analogues 1b and 1d are among the most potent ligands at producing antinociception through the delta-opioid receptor. The picomolar potencies of analogues 1a and 1c in the intrathecal (it.) assay strongly indicate that mu- and delta-opioid receptors interact synergistically to modulate the antinociceptive responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Alanine / chemical synthesis*
  • Alanine / chemistry
  • Alanine / pharmacology
  • Analgesics / chemical synthesis
  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Enkephalins / chemical synthesis*
  • Enkephalins / chemistry
  • Enkephalins / pharmacology
  • Escape Reaction / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Ileum / drug effects
  • Ileum / physiology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Injections, Spinal
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / physiology
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Opioid, delta / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Opioid, kappa / metabolism
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism
  • Sulfides
  • Swine
  • Vas Deferens / drug effects
  • Vas Deferens / physiology

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Enkephalins
  • Receptors, Opioid, delta
  • Receptors, Opioid, kappa
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Sulfides
  • lanthionine
  • Alanine